Hall Of Fame
Marietta College
Six inductees to make up MC's 23rd Hall of Fame class
Dec. 22, 2005
MARIETTA, Ohio –February 4, 2006, will mark the induction of six former Pioneer standouts into the 23rd class of the Marietta College Athletics Hall of Fame. The ceremony will once again highlight the Winter Weekend festivities.
This year’s inductees include Way-Weigelt award winners Jim Pheneger ’62, Bill Kingzett ’79, Matt Wurtzbacher ’84 and Roger Thompson ’87, as well as All-American pitcher Doug Cook ’91 and All-OAC goalkeeper Traci Hart ’92.
The annual Winter Weekend will include festivities such as women’s basketball and volleyball alumni games, men’s and women’s varsity basketball games and will be highlighted by the Hall of Fame Banquet to be held Saturday evening in the Dyson Baudo Recreation Center. Recognizing former female captains will be the focus of Winter Weekend.
This year’s class raises the Hall of Fame membership to 119. Here is a look at the 2006 inductees:
James Pheneger
Class of 1962
Baseball, Basketball
Pheneger, a two-sport athlete, earned three varsity letters in basketball and four more in baseball during his time at Marietta College from 1958-62.
As a four-year member and three-year starter for the men’s basketball team, Pheneger was known for his defense. In 1962, the senior captain led the Pioneers in assists, while adding 6.3 points per game.
On the diamond, Pheneger played four seasons, one for Don Drumm and the remaining three for Tom Stubbs. The pitcher was the captain of both the 1961 and 1962 squads and was named the team’s Most Valuable Player as a senior. Pheneger, who was given the Way-Weigelt award in 1962, earned a tryout with the Milwaukee Brewers following graduation.
Born in Newark, Ohio, Pheneger went on to earn his Masters of Education from Ashland. He spent 40 years as a teacher and basketball coach, including 17 years as the head coach of the Midpark High School men’s basketball team. During that time, he won two Greater Cleveland Conference championships. Following his tenure as Midpark’s coach, he was an assistant at Baldwin-Wallace for 14 seasons.
Pheneger retired from coaching in 1992. He currently helps his son and daughter-in-law run their pool business. He and his wife Barbara live in Berea, while spending a few months each year at their condominium in Naples, Florida. They have four children — David, Mark, Dan and Amy.
Bill Kingzett
Class of 1979
Soccer, Wrestling
Kingzett earned seven varsity letters — three in soccer and four in wrestling — during his playing days at Marietta College.
On the soccer field, Kingzett led his team in assists as a senior. In his final three years on the wrestling mat, he placed second, fourth and third, respectively at the OAC Tournament. Kingzett also represented Marietta College at the NCAA Division III Wrestling Tournament as a sophomore in 1977. He was a tri-captain his senior year and the recipient of the Way-Weigelt award.
In addition to his athletic accomplishments, Kingzett was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, serving as the house manager for three years. He was also elected to Tau Pi Phi and Omicron Delta Kappa honor societies.
Since leaving Marietta in 1979, Kingzett has owned Kingzett Construction Company, been the managing partner of a self-storage facility, President of Meadville Pines, Inc., and Vice President of Huidekoper Group, Inc., while serving as a councilman for Roaming Shores Village and a member of the Marietta College Athletic Founders Board. The Cleveland native has also been a member of the Conneaut Lake/Meadville Business Association and active his local church.
Kingzett and his wife Deborah, live in Roaming Shores with their three children, Billy (15), Michael (15) and Emma (11).
Matt Wurtzbacher
Class of 1984
Football
Wurtzbacher was a three-year letterwinner for the Marietta College football team. The defensive lineman was a captain and earned All-OAC recognition in each of his final three seasons. He was also the team's Most Valuable Player twice.
Wurtzbacher, the 1984 Way-Weigelt award winner, also excelled in the classroom and became Marietta football first Academic All-American in 1983.
The former petroleum engineering major was also active in SPE, Pi Epsilon Tau, Omicron Delta Kappa, Kappa Mu Epsilon and Alpha Sigma Phi at Marietta.
Wurtzbacher went on to obtain a MBA from Syracuse and is now a licensed professional engineer for the state of Colorado and the province of Alberta, Canada. During his professional career, he has been involved many petroleum related organizations.
Wurtzbacher has also coached youth football and soccer in Colorado and been active in his local church, serving as an usher, Elder, Deacon and Ministry Board Member.
He and his wife Linda have two children, David and Emily.
Roger Thompson
Class of 1987
Baseball
Thompson was a four-year letterman with the Etta Express from 1984-87. As a sophomore, he was named to the World Series All-Tournament team. In 1986, he was a member of the Pioneers’ National Championship team, while collecting first team All-OAC and second team All-Region honors. In 1987, Thompson was named first team All-OAC, first team All-Region and first team All-American. The senior captain, who led the squad with a .395 batting average, was also named the Jack Rafeld OAC MVP and Marietta’s Way-Weigelt award winner.
Thompson currently holds the MC and OAC record for career runs scored (213) and games played (213), while ranked second in at-bats (687).
Since leaving Marietta, Thompson has been a physical education teacher at Edison Junior High School. In addition to teaching, he coached football, basketball and baseball in the Parkersburg area before taking the position as head softball coach for Parkersburg South. During his 15 years as the leader of the Patriots softball program, he has been named Region 7 Coach of the Year seven times and has led his team to the state tourney on a regular basis.
He and his wife Sheryl have three children.
Doug Cook
Class of 1991
Baseball
Cook was a two-time All-American and three-year letterwinner under Coach Don Schaly’s Etta Express. As a sophomore, the pitcher earned second team All-OAC, first team All-Region and second team All-American honors after finishing the year with a record of 9-1 and a 2.33 ERA.
Cook was given honorable mention All-Region honors as a junior, before regaining his All-American status as a senior. During the 1991 season, the first team All-OAC, Jack Rafeld OAC MVP, first team All-Region and first team All-American went 15-2 on the hill with 80 strikeouts and a 1.40 ERA. The Way-Weigelt award winner totaled 34 career victories, which ranked third in the OAC at the time of his graduation.
Following his days at Marietta, Cook signed professionally with the Atlanta Braves and played one year in the minor leagues for Idaho Falls.
After baseball, Cook began working as a principle researcher at Proctor & Gamble and remains there today. He currently analyzes feedback on hair care products from P & G’s worldwide customers.
Cook has also started a business — The Wired Pair —, which helps charities, churches and other non-profits raise money through Texas Hold’em poker tournaments.
Cook and his wife Julie have four children, Cameron (5), Ethan (2), Braden (2) and Jessica (deceased).
